Each year in our parish here in Tatura, we celebrate Grandparents Mass. I know we are only one of many; one of my brothers and his wife went to one recently for one of their grandchildren. We have it at this time as it is only a week out from the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne on the 26th July – Mary’s parents. It is fitting to give them this recognition because we don’t hear much about them in the Gospels. We marvel at Mary and the amazing woman she was and what God had asked her to do. We know in our own lifetime what impact parents have on their children with life, morals and living a Christian life. So we must give credit to Joachim and Anne for this nurturing and teaching and love of God. One article I read said that the power for Mary to say ‘yes’ came from the Holy Spirit but it was the wisdom of her parents that guided her to say ‘yes’! This Mass is a beautiful way to involve the grandparents in the school life of the children, but it is also a lovely way for the children to appreciate their grandparents. Children can learn to appreciate the connection between their parents and grandparents – their Mum and Dad. It helps the children appreciate that Jesus had grandparents too, and the influence they had on their daughter and therefore on the upbringing of Jesus. Relationships we don’t always think about with the Holy Family. Fr. Michael
